Switzerland vs Bulgaria Match Analysis and Prediction

Switzerland are coming into this game after escaping with a point from Rome in their recent World Cup Qualifying fixture, welcoming the already eliminated Bulgaria to Lucerne on Monday, seeking victory that could earn them a ticket to Qatar next year.

The Swiss should play to better Italy’s result – or match them and have a better goal difference –  to top Group C and automatically progress to the finals, while their opponents are only playing for pride and a chance to finish third in the standings.

Switzerland’s hope of avoiding the World Cup playoffs and take the direct route to Qatar remain intact despite Jorginho putting the ball over the crossbar in a late penalty attempt on Fraday at the Stadio Olimpico.

With the Azzurri travelling to Belfast to meet Northern Ireland, Murat Yakin’s second -placed side are returning home in persuit of a potentially vital victory over Bulgaria. If they can successfully outscore the Italians in the event of both sides winning, then Switzerland would reach their fifth consecutive World Cup finals without having to participate in the playoffs.

While The Nati cannot entirely control their own destiny on Monday, they will certainly be confident of victory against a side they defeated 3-1 seven months ago in Bulgaria.

The Bulgarians will not be heading for Qatar next year, however their recent improvement should offer them hope of a closer outcome than when they last met Switzerland in Sofia.

Bulgaria has transitioned to a more youthful squad this year, with a dismal run of results gradually starting to turn.

A run of just one loss from five games was extended to six in the Lions’ last outing as they drew 1-1 with Ukraine in a friendly.

Switzerland vs Bulgaria head to head

In the pair’s head to head encounters, Switzerland are dominating two away wins and two home wins to make it four, while Bulgaria has won only once out of their seven meetings in all competitions so far. Two matches ended in a draw. Hosts have collected 14 points while visitors have 5.

Switzerland 0-2 Bulgaria 28/04/92

Switzerland 1-1 Bulgaria 11/02/09

Bulgaria 0-0 Switzerland 26/03/11

Switzerland 3-1 Bulgaria 06/09/11

Bulgaria 1-3 Switzerland 25/03/21

Switzerland latest home form 

Switzerland are coming into the Monday night’s clash with a good home record, their latest loss being to Spain through penalty shoot-out after a 1-1 draw – after which they defeated Greece 2-1 in a friendly then drew 0-0 with Italy and beat Northern Ireland 2-0 in the Wolrd Cup Qualifying matches.

Switzerland 3-1 Turkey 20/06/21

Switzerland 1-1 Spain 02/07/21

Switzerland 2-1 Greece 01/09/21

Switzerland 0-0 Italy 05/09/21

Switzerland 2-0 Northern Ireland 09/10/21

Switzerland latest away form

On the away soil Switzerland are not on the bad run because they have not lost four matches out of the last five on the road in all competitions. In the last three, they held Northern Ireland to a 0-0 draw, took a 4-0 victory over Lithuania and finished with a 1-1 draw with Italy.

Italy 3-0 Switzerland 16/06/21

France 3-3 Switzerland 28/06/21

Northern Ireland 0-0 Switzerland 08/09/21

Lithuania 0-4 Switzerland 12/10/21

Italy 1-1 Switzerland 12/11/21

Bulgaria latest home form

The Bulgarians have really put up a good performance to make sure their team has the last three home matches, however they had lost twice – in their last five – 1-3 to Switzerland and 0-2 to Italy both games being of the World Cup Qualifying matches.

Bulgaria 1-3 Switzerland 25/03/21

Bulgaria 0-2 Italy 28/03/21

Bulgaria 1-0 Lithuania 05/09/21

Bulgaria 4-1 Georgia 08/09/21

Bulgaria 2-1 Northern Ireland 12/10/21

Bulgaria latest away form

Lately Bulgaria have failed to impress in their away record, being winless in more than ten games in all competitions. In most recent five matches they have only managed two 1-1 draws with Italy and Ukraine, scoring 3 goals and conceding 9 in the process.

Russia 1-0 Bulgaria 05/06/21

France 3-0 Bulgaria 08/06/21

Italy 1-1 Bulgaria 02/09/21

Lithuania 3-1 Bulgaria 09/10/21

Ukraine 1-1 Bulgaria 11/11/21

Switzerland news

Borussia Dortmund’s center-back Manuel Akanji is ruled out of the game due to suspension. Striker Noah Okafor impressed up front on Friday and could retain the centre-forward’s role ahead of experienced Mario Gavranovic in the Murat Yakin’s favoured 4-2-3-1 formation.

Bulgaria news

Bulgaria have less concerns about injuries, though Georgi Yomov and Petko Hristov pulled out of the squad last week. Kiril Despodov is set to feature up front, having assumed captaincy from Georgi Kostadinov – who recently returned from injury – and could be joined by Atanas Iliev.

Prediction and Odds

Bulgaria have shown some significant signs of life recently, but will find it to hard to handle the top-ranked nation, despite their many injury concerns. Favourites Switzerland will still rely on Northern Ireland to do them a favour in the other Group C clash, a result that could decide their destiny.

Odds: 1.75 2.50 3.01

Switzerland 3-1 Bulgaria

Switzerland 2-0 Bulgaria

Switzerland 2-1 Bulgaria

Switzerland 1-0 Bulgaria 

Switzerland 1-1 Bulgaria

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